The Irish tell the story of a man who arrives at the gates of heaven and asks to be let in St. Peter says, “Of course, just show us your scars.” The man says, “I have no scars”. St. Peter says, “What a pity was there nothing worth fighting for”?
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of experiencing challenges and struggles in life.
The quote reflects on the idea that our struggles and scars are indicative of the passions and values we hold dear. It suggests that a life without challenges or battles could lack meaning, as the obstacles we face and overcome shape our character and stories. Through this lens, it becomes essential to engage deeply with our convictions and fight for what truly matters to us.
In practice
This quote could be used in a motivational speech about resilience and determination.
Childhood hunger in America is as much a paradox as it is a tragedy. Why, in the wealthiest country in the world, should hunger darken the lives and dreams of 12 million children and their families? I believe that, when Americans learn the facts and understand how their involvement can make a difference, banishing childhood hunger will be a national, local and personal priority.
While acting is what I do for a living, activism is what I do to stay alive.
I am still a journeyman actor and a peace and justice activist. I'm a pilgrim trying to win my freedom and serve as best I can in the time I have, with this gift I've been given.
When I reached adulthood, even now, I could afford to belong to a country club. But I could never belong to a private club because of my experience as a child, because it would isolate me from the whole of humanity.
Future generations are not going to ask us what political party were you in. They are going to ask what did you do about it, when you knew the glaciers were melting.
My recovery is the single greatest accomplishment of my life. Without that, the rest of my life would have fallen apart.
After all, life hasn't much to offer except youth, and I suppose for older people, the love of youth in others.
She didn't dare to look up, but she could feel their frightened eyes hanging onto her as she hauled the words in and breathed them out. A voice played the notes inside her. This, it said, is your accordion.
It just goes to show, if you try to ruin someone's life, it only gets better. You just don't get to be a part of it.
Grief is the agony of an instant. The indulgence of grief the blunder of a life.
It is normal to give away a little of one's life in order not to lose it all.
The poor fatherless baby of eight months is now the utterly broken-hearted and crushed widow of forty-two! My life as a happy one is ended! the world is gone for me! If I must live on (and I will do nothing to make me worse than I am), it is henceforth for our poor fatherless children - for my unhappy country, which has lost all in losing him - and in only doing what I know and feel he would wish.
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